MORE than 200 people turned out to the first Forbes working dog auction on Saturday to witness 14 dogs sell for more than $45,000.
The sale, with dogs working sheep supplied by Bedgerabong's MT Pastoral as they were auctioned was appreciated for its professionalism by onlookers.
Organisers Kevin Miller, Whitty Lennon and Co. had 64 registered bidders from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and NSW vying for the charges.
The event was live streamed on facebook and there were five phone bidders from around Australia.
Stock carter from Quondialla, Nathan Vonthien said of KMWL's first effort at a dog sale: "you'd have to pleased with this wouldn't you?"
Forbes stock carter Bruce Spackman said as he watched the dogs working sheep before the auction that he'd spotted three or four dogs with huge potential.
"Sheep are bringing good money, there's a few dogs that will make thousands," he said.
He said it was good to see a dog auction in Forbes and heaped praise on James Litt, who was the sale's key organiser.
Craig Christopherson, from "Marginal", Lewis Ponds, near Orange, topped the bidding, taking home Condover Fly for $9750, a three-year-old black-and-tan female Kelpie from Cotway Billy III and sired by Coogee Ace.
Mr Christopher, from a 2225-hectare aggregation said he had plenty of dogs and intended to breed with Condover Fly.
She was describeed as an all-rounder, who could work sheep and cattle in the yards or paddock with strong mustering and droving skills and good cast cover and the ability to hold a mob soundly.
Another happy buyer was Stan Heffer, from the 8100ha "Boorooma" at Coolibah, who picked up Milly, a 15-month old black-and-tan kelpie who had just come off a month's droving work.
He paid $3250 for Milly, which he reckoned was a reasonable price.
Milly, who was said to be suited to paddock work with a cast more than 500 metres, but capable in the yards nonetheless, was steady when moving sheep, but had push when required.
Mr Heffer said said he had another "six or seven" dogs, but they were ageing, so a 15-month old was a good addition to his pack.
KMWL's Brendan Mainsbridge said a lot of sheep graziers were turning to dogs because labour was so hard to get these days, and with automated sheep handlers good dogs were worth their weight in gold keeping up the flow.
"You could probably weigh 8000 sheep in a day alone with good dogs," he said.
The stock and station agents are already planning the next sale, probably about the same time next year.
